"AirLite recoil problems" update

[AirLitenewbie]

Hi all,

For those of you who missed the story the first time around, it's all in this thread:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/135519-airlite-recoil-problems.html

For any of you who have wondered how it all turned out, it's turning out well. While the AirLite is assuredly ruining someone else's hand now, mine has been recovering nicely. I've been working my way back really slowly, and today marks the first time I've fired a regular load .38 since May. Better yet, my hand lived to tell about it. The goal is to work back toward maybe a max of 12 or so "real" shots like that in a session, with the rest always spent on the .22.

I'm not where I want to be yet, but I can see that I will definitely get there. The 640 is honestly a bit heavy to carry, but very well worth the trade-off since I can actually effectively fire it. And that would seem to be the point of it all.

Thanks again to all. You are a knowledgable and generous crowd; it's nice to be here.

Elizabeth

 

[flop-shank]

I'm happy to hear the good news, Elizabeth! It sounds like you found the right gun. What load are you shooting out of it?

 

[wnr700]

My 2 cents (and others may crucify me), but I would take a .22 Mag revolver in hearbeat if you were having this many issues.

Is your practice gun a .22 Mag or .22 LR?

If you shoot .22 well that is what I would carry. I would trade 8 or 9 shots of something small and hot (.22 mag ballistics are nothing to sneeze at) I can shoot vs something I wouldn't shoot 100 rounds down range at a session.

I hated my 442.

Give me a K frame .38/.357 and I'm cooking with gas! Smooth as butter.

For ME, I felt that it was being criminally negligent and utterly illogical to carry something (ie 442 or any handgun) I could not shoot well and would not shoot regularly.

I was asking to be the poster child for gun control advocates.

Good luck!

 

[AirLitenewbie]

Today's victory was had with a 130 grain 38 special FMJ by American Eagle. I've got probably 800 or so of these or something much like them (equivalents from Master Cast), so I probably have a lifetime supply for practice purposes.

What I have in the 640 and the SP 101 for defensive purposes are 125 grain Gold Dot 38 Special +P hollow points. Back before the most recent injury, I unloaded a cylinder of those by accident once when I started practicing but had forgotten to change out the cartridges. I didn't even know I'd done it until I went looking for them after the session and thought, "Whoops, that was expensive." I'll purposely fire some more of those sometime for familiarity purposes, but it's reassuring from a recoil standpoint that I didn't even notice the difference when I fired them by accident.

"Fired them by accident." That sounds so awful, but you know what I mean.

 

[AirLitenewbie]

My 2 cents (and others may crucify me), but I would take a .22 Mag revolver in hearbeat if you were having this many issues.

Is your practice gun a .22 Mag or .22 LR?

I didn't know there was such a thing (.22 Mag revolver). Sounds tempting, but I've done enough musical firearms for awhile, so I'll stay with what I have.

Admittedly, I'm a really happy camper when there is reason to be carrying the .22 (LR) instead of one of the heavier choices, because that gun has never, ever hurt me. But the times when I'm carrying the .22 are times when I don't expect much in the way of trouble (back road bicycling, primarily). In the higher-risk situations (since my home was broken into and I do have a specific individual to worry about), I'm kind of happy to be carrying something more serious, and I know I can manage five reasonable shots with what I now have.

Thanks for the thought though. If I'm in the market for something else in the future, I'll keep it in mind. Anybody want to trade one for a lightly used SP 101? The only reason I'm keeping that at this point is because I can't get enough for it to be worth selling, and it's just nice to have another section of the house covered.

 

[Eeyore]

Elizabeth:

Pretty much any gun can be controlled with proper training and techniques. My wife weights buck and a quarter. Her favorite handgun is a 45 3 inch Kimber on an aluminum frame. Just make sure someone knowledgeable works on your grip, hold and stance.

 

[JayDubya]

Elizabeth, I am happy you are rid of that Airlite as I recommended. Also that you are using Mastercast's reloads.

Cordially, Jack

 

[arrowhd]

What ever works the best for you is what you should carry. Glad you found something that will work for you.

 

[flop-shank]

I didn't know there was such a thing (.22 Mag revolver). Sounds tempting, but I've done enough musical firearms for awhile, so I'll stay with what I have.

Elizabeth, you might want to check out the NAA Black Widow when time, money, ect. allow. It is very mild to shoot. with the smaller magnum mini revolver sized grips, it is far more concealable than a J frame. I carry one as a second or third gun all the time. I wouldn't advise a .22 anything as a primary if anything bigger will work, and it sounds like the .38 ammo is working out well. IMO, you're on the right track.

Admittedly, I'm a really happy camper when there is reason to be carrying the .22 (LR) instead of one of the heavier choices, because that gun has never, ever hurt me. But the times when I'm carrying the .22 are times when I don't expect much in the way of trouble (back road bicycling, primarily). In the higher-risk situations (since my home was broken into and I do have a specific individual to worry about), I'm kind of happy to be carrying something more serious, and I know I can manage five reasonable shots with what I now have.

My advice would be to never carry a single five shooter and even with higher capacity guns, I wouldn't be without a BUG. I also don't subscribe to the notion that good shootouts happen in good areas and bad ones happen in bad areas. I practice what I preach and carry multiple hard hitting guns always. Pack to win.

You also might want to keep the Ruger, if you can afford to, in case your S&W needs repair, or heaven forbid, you have to shoot someone and your Smith winds up in an evidence locker. Just some food for thought.

 

[AirLitenewbie]

I also don't subscribe to the notion that good shootouts happen in good areas and bad ones happen in bad areas. I practice what I preach and carry multiple hard hitting guns always. Pack to win.

You also might want to keep the Ruger, if you can afford to, in case your S&W needs repair, or heaven forbid, you have to shoot someone and your Smith winds up in an evidence locker. Just some food for thought.

See, I'd have never thought of that last point. We'll go with the S&W repair scenario, as unlikely as I'm sure that is.

As to the fact that something can go wrong at any time, I agree. As it happens, that's something I've always been willing to live with because statistically, we're in a generally safe environment. I know it's not perfect, but I was fine with remaining unarmed. It's only when a specific issue could not be ignored that I got into this at all. I know when my highest risk times are (a lot of the time, because my schedule is known) and when there's little-to-no risk from my particular threat (random schedule deviation).

That said, I have appreciated the added security (or at least sense thereof) that carrying has provided, because we all have some times when a situation doesn't feel comfortable. As I said in the original thread, it feels better to know that if something ever does go south, at least I'll be able to make an effort.

 

[gunlovingirl]

Hi Elizabeth. That's great news! Back when I was looking for my first carry piece, I was offered a Airlite. Thankfully the gentleman said it was a handful to shoot. I passed on it, and got a Model 60 no dash .38.
My viewpoint is, shot placement and accuracy outweigh caliber. At least to a point. Carry what you shoot well. And always carry. Even that .22 is better than being unarmed. But try to get into the habit of carrying that 640 whenever possible. Don't let yourself become too complacent. Now a days we're not safe anywhere at anytime. And as flop-shank mentioned, you may want to keep that Ruger, just in case. Or at least trade it for another Smith! Be safe, and keep on shooting!

 

[wnr700]

From you many posts, I get a sense that you have zero comfort with J frames, the recoil, and it likely is causing you not to enjoy and learn in the process. I think it is important to enjoy shooting or it becomes a chore.

I found that was the case when I sold off a Model 66 to help fund a 442, leaving me with two J fames. They got shot less and less.

Around Christmas, I picked up a K frame Model 19 and a a couple weeks ago a Model 64 (for $262). Mostly to help train my wife to begin shooting. Also I've got a Model 17 .22 caliber for the same purpose and my enjoyment.

So my question is have you shot any K frame .38 Special (Model 10, Model 15, Model 64) or the K frame .357 ( Model 19, Model 66) or even the L frame (Model 686)?

Shooting target loads, they are smooth, recoil absorbing, and enjoyable... Shooting full load .357 adds a bit of snap, but very manageable.

After 100 rounds of K frame and equal amount or more of .22, I find my Taurus 85 J frame becomes more interesting, less threatening, less frustrating,more of a challenge, and less of a chore.

Coupled with the J frame .22 it might break that mental block.

Good luck!

 

[AirLitenewbie]

From you many posts, I get a sense that you have zero comfort with J frames, the recoil,

Thanks for your concern, but that's not actually the case. I'm fine with J frames, just not .357 AirLites, and feel good about what I now have. I am optimistic going forward, and just being careful to not re-aggravate what was a long-lasting injury.

Before I got hurt the first time, I was going through 100-150 rounds at a time of 158 grain .38s (through my SP 101); not saying that was comfy, but it was doable. I don't really expect to recover the ability to do that (which probably made the hand more vulnerable to the AirLite assault anyway), but I can clearly get back to a level that permits enough practice to remain comfortable and at least somewhat proficient with a weapon.

Nothing at all but happy rainbow thoughts for the 640.

 

[claimbuster]

Elizabeth, I'm 6'-2", 250# and have been shooting j-frames for a lot of years. My Airlite found a new home, for the exact same reason, within a few weeks after initial purchase. In addition to three M60's, I have this pair of M640's.

Note, they are both ported. IMHO, porting doesn't do "squat" for recoil, but it sure keeps the muzzle down for follow on shots.

These two get carried a lot. I only carry the one with gold trim when I am wearing gold earrings!

 

[AirLitenewbie]

I only carry the one with gold trim when I am wearing gold earrings!

Fashionable, and prepared...

I'm amazed at how many stories like this there seem to be about AirLites. I am very happy, with the help
of people here, to have finally gotten it sorted out and settled on a workable arrangement. The J frame is great as long as it weighs enough to balance what it's firing. A K might be better, but the steel J already weighs enough to lug around, so I think it represents the best overall solution.